The Russellville City School Board was pleased to honor a group of students at this morning’s school board meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn and the board recognized the RHS National Honor Society officers who once again spearheaded a state record-breaking blood drive, collecting more Power Red Donations than ever before. Officers for this school year are: President, Kimberly Cano Velasquez; Vice-President, Bianca Santamaria; Secretary, Lily Vargas Hernadez; Treasurer, Kaytlynn Brady; Project Chairperson, Brittany Velasco Diego; Historian, Obidio Miguel Martin; and the leadership committee of Miguel Francisco, Andy Hernandez, and Cristopher Mojica. The NHS sponsors are Zach Bruce and Katelyn Little.
The board was also pleased to recognize two exceptional students for their musical ability. RMS students Aleya Lane and Layla Rush were chosen to represent Russellville in the Alabama All-State Chorus. They were joined by their teacher Miss Macey Vandiver. Aleya and Layla were selected from thousands of students who auditioned.
Layla Rush was also recognized for her selection to the Alabama Bandmasters Association All-State Band. She was joined by RHS band directors Jeremy Willis and Scott Stephenson.
The students are pictured with RCS Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn and board president Ike Rogers.
Congratulations to Russellville High School's Yadira Juan for winning second place in the Fourth Congressional District Art Competition. A group of students from Mrs. Melissa Grissom's RHS art class attended the event at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
Participants from RHS, included
From Left to Right:
Camila Sarabia, Rosa Martinez, Madai Antonio Galvez, Yadira Juan, Sydney Cienfuegos Alcantara and not pictured Danyalle Cummings.
Due the potential of severe weather the schedule for the RHS Prom has been changed. Please see the changes below.
🐯✨ The RCS Golden Tiger Core Values Newsletter is here!
Read it now 👉 https://www.canva.com/design/DAGjZYbN47Q/zY93Sb0-yh_S2kg9A6QE0A/view?utm_content=DAGjZYbN47Q&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h2d99b704c5
RMS students compete while honoring Russellville legend on podcast
It’s quickly approaching 40 years now since Chucky Mullins first made his mark on the football world, but thanks to a group of Russellville Middle School students, his legacy is still being shared.
Mullins was a Russellville football legend, helping lead the Golden Tigers to the 1987 state championship game, before signing to play for the Ole Miss Rebels. Well on his way to becoming a household name in the SEC, Mullins was paralyzed in the Rebels’ 1989 game against Vanderbilt. He became known across the country over the next year and half as he faced his injuries with the same passion and grace that defined his life.
Sadly, Mullins passed away in 1991, leaving a void in many lives across the nation, particularly here in Russellville.
His story has been told many times through the years, but now, a new generation of Russellville students are sharing the message about one of the Golden Tiger greats.
Alana Parker, an English/Language Arts teacher at RMS, and the school’s library media specialist, Lauren Archer, are student fellow teacher leads for the school’s Ed Farm program. Ed Farm is a Birmingham-based organization that works with school systems to help close digital skills gaps.
This semester the students were tasked with creating a student-led podcast.
“We asked the students to brainstorm and think about something that they were interested in and passionate about,” Parker said.
“Of course, it was sports related. So we asked them to narrow it down and find something that was important to Russellville. Chucky was the perfect topic to discuss.”
The students conducted interviews with people who knew and loved Chucky Mullins, including former Russellville coaching great Don Cox. One of the students involved, Porter Bragwell, is the grandson of former longtime Russellville assistant and head coach Ted Ikerd, who was on Cox’s staff while Mullins played for the Golden Tigers.
“It became personal to the students,” Parker said. “The more they learned about Chucky and his importance to Russellville, you could really see the students’ interest grow.”
The title of the podcast, “The Golden Playbook,” took on special meaning as well as the students looked into people who built the Russellville tradition.
Archer said 24 students take part in the program, which includes an audio team, content, marketing, podcasters, and project managers.
“The students really put in a lot of work and learn a lot of various roles,” Archer said. “The class changes each semester but we hope we are able to keep the podcast going.”
The students will be competing against schools from Montgomery and Birmingham to see who receives the most listeners between now and April 29.
“It is exciting to be competing against schools in larger areas,” Archer said. “We believe our students have done a tremendous job and the podcast turned out really well, so we hope the community goes online to listen to it and help these students win the competition part of it.”
You can check out the podcast on several platforms, including:
thehuddlepodcast.podbean.com
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thehuddlepodcasts-podcast/id1802215375
open.spotify.com/show/2x0Pfu2bM9stcHH9dg5Keq
music.amazon.com/podcasts/8ac98b4c-7164-44f0-8202-9f38c52ef050/the-thehuddlepodcast’s-podcast
A group of RHS students were all dressed up with somewhere to go as classes ended for spring break.
Senior literature and composition students in Mrs. Gilmer and Mrs. Gist’s classes held their annual tea party on Friday, March 21.
The students wrapped up their studies on Oscar Wilde’s novel, “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
“A tea party is a big part of the plot,” Mrs. Gilmer said.
“So the students brought food and decorations and some even dressed up for it.”
The party capped the section as the students prepared for their AP exam.
Remembering #34 Ryland Calvert
We hope you and your child are enjoying your new RCS Golden Tiger Core Values magnet! Now, we’d love to see where you’ve placed your magnet! Whether it’s on the fridge, a family message board, a locker, or somewhere creative, share a photo with us and show how your family is keeping these core values front and center. We can’t wait to see all the fun and meaningful places these magnets end up! Thank you for partnering with us in building character and excellence, both at school and at home.
Snap a picture of your magnet in its new home.
Share it on social media with the hashtag #GoldenTigerCoreValues
RMS shelter open for the weekend
Due to the impending severe weather expected this weekend, Russellville City Schools will open the tornado-safe hallway of Russellville Middle School from Friday night through Sunday morning for anyone who needs a safe place to shelter.
The perimeter door will be unlocked for anyone needing shelter during this time.
Those who need to use the shelter, should enter from Parliament Street and park anywhere behind the lunchroom area and enter through the west side doors.
School officials do ask those who use the shelter to refrain from bringing pets out of respect for those who may have allergies. There is also no use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs allowed.
The shelter will be monitored routinely throughout the weekend by law enforcement.
We encourage everyone to monitor this weather situation closely and to use this space if needed.
Let’s stay safe!!
Russellville prom moved to April 5
Russellville City Schools officials announced Wednesday afternoon that the annual RHS prom has been postponed and moved to Saturday, April 5 at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum in Florence, beginning at 7 p.m.
The prom was originally scheduled for March 15, but the likelihood of several rounds of dangerous storms across the region on Saturday prompted the change.
“We have been monitoring the weather all week and I was on a briefing with the National Weather Service today and it’s in the best interest of all of our students to go ahead and postpone the prom,” said RHS Principal Col. Norman Lier.
“There could be several rounds of severe weather this Saturday that could include flooding, hail and possibly even some tornadic activity. Safety of our students always comes first so that’s what ultimately led to this decision. We want to make sure our students have a memorable prom, but we have to ensure their safety first.”
School officials closely monitoring weather ahead of this weekend’s prom
Russellville City School officials announced Monday that they are closely and carefully watching the weather leading up to this Saturday’s annual RHS prom.
The prom is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum in Florence.
Current weather forecasts suggest that strong storms, which could include possible tornadoes, will pass across the region Friday night and throughout the day on Saturday.
School officials will be monitoring the situation throughout the week and will update students and the community if any changes become necessary.
“We will be watching it closely,” said RHS Principal Norman Lier. “We will evaluate the situation throughout the week to make sure that all of our students attending the prom are safe. That is our top priority.”
RCS Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn said system administrators will be in contact with local and state officials to stay up to date on the latest weather models as the week progresses.
If any changes to the prom schedule become necessary, school officials will post updates immediately.
Kindergarten Registration for Russellville City Schools is happening this week! If you have a child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025, now is the time to get them registered for the 2025-2026 school year!
📍 Where: RCS Board of Education
📅 When: March 10-14
📝 What to Bring:
✔️ Birth Certificate
✔️ Immunization Record (Blue Card)
✔️ Proof of Residency
✔️ Parent/Guardian Photo ID
We can’t wait to welcome our newest Golden Tigers to the RCS family! 🖤💛 Help us spread the word by sharing this post! #RCSKindergarten #FutureGoldenTigers #ForeverGolden
Due to expected high winds and the possibility of strong storms, all after school activities in the Russellville City Schools system are cancelled tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Russellville City Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.
Out of an abundance of caution due to extremely low temperatures and the possibility of black ice forming overnight, Russellville City Schools will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday, Feb. 20.
Due to the threat of inclement winter weather, Russellville City Schools will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. All after-school activities are also cancelled.
Alabama AG honors safety measures at Russellville Elementary
Russellville Elementary School was honored Thursday as being one of the safest schools in the state of Alabama.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall presented the 2024 Safe School Initiative Award to Russellville Elementary during a special presentation Thursday afternoon. RES was recognized as one of just six schools in the state for its excellent implementation of safety plans and for identifying current trends in school safety, according to the attorney general’s office.
“There are more than 1,500 private and public schools in our state and only six are honored like this,” Marshall told an audience of RES fifth grade students, RCS faculty, local officials and first responders.
“It takes a principal that’s committed to pull it all together and you have a mayor and superintendent that said this is a priority and provided the resources to make it possible.”
In presenting the award, Marshall said he wants Russellville to be in the spotlight for celebrating days such as this, rather than being in the spotlight for when something tragic happens.
“It is clear that the leadership here wants to make sure you are safe when you are at school,” Marshall told the students in attendance.
According to the attorney general’s office, schools throughout the state took part in a comprehensive application and review process by a panel of independent judges who possess real-world insight into school safety trends. All applicants were evaluated in their ability to enhance safe school protocols through preparation and training; collaboration with local emergency response agencies; involvement of school resource officer or alternate security personnel; structure and innovation of safety technology, community participation, and law-related and prevention education.
Russellville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn said the award reflects the system’s overall efforts to make sure that student safety is always a top priority.
“It is a great honor for our faculty and staff at Russellville Elementary School to be selected for this award,” Guinn said. “School safety is something that we stress each day, and it is a top priority at all of our schools. For RES to be selected as one of six to be honored out of all the schools in the state, is certainly an honor and indicative of the hard work that goes into making sure our schools are safe for our students and faculty.”
School officials pointed to a strong collaboration between RCS and local first responders and law enforcement that helped shape a strong safety plan for the district.
Russellville Elementary School Principal Tiffany Warhurst said the state recognition means a great deal because it acknowledges her school staff’s hard work. But, more importantly, it means that all measures are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone that enters through the doors at Russellville Elementary.
“We are incredibly honored that Russellville Elementary School has been recognized as one of only six schools in Alabama to receive the Attorney General’s Safe School Award,” Warhurst said.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff, students, and community to creating a safe and supportive environment for learning. We realize parents give us their most prized and valuable possession every day – their children, which is why we put their child’s safety as our top priority.”
Warhurst said many things go into providing students with a safe and welcoming environment and she is thankful to have the support to make that possible.
“Safety is so much more than just keeping our campus secure,” Warhurst said. “It’s about helping each student reach their fullest potential, and that includes helping them emotionally and mentally. We are so thankful that our board understands the importance of this as well and fully supports having additional counselors on our campus.”
The other schools to be chosen for the Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative Award were Orange Beach Middle and High School, UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Ladonia Elementary School in Phenix City, Cullman City Primary School, and Elvin Hill Elementary School in Columbiana.
Russellville residents once again turned out in record numbers this week to support one of the American Red Cross' largest annual blood drives in Alabama. This year's event, sponsored by the Russellville High School National Honor Society, collected almost 270 pints of blood. We are blessed to be part of such a giving community.
Russellville Middle School held its annual National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony this week. Congratulations to all of these students for their hard work in obtaining this honor.
🌟 Exciting News for the Golden Tiger BIGS program at RCS! 🌟
We are thrilled to announce Mrs. Mandy Farris as the new Golden Tiger BIGS Coordinator! 🎉
Golden Tiger BIGS is a partnership between Russellville City Schools and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals, focused on mentoring and making a lasting difference in the lives of our students.
📸 Pictured are Dr. Natalie Bendall, RCS Curriculum Coordinator; Gina Mashburn, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals CEO; and Mrs. Mandy Farris, Golden Tiger BIGS Coordinator.📸
Mrs. Farris brings a wealth of passion and dedication to this role, and we can’t wait to see how she helps strengthen the connections and opportunities within our community.
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Farris to this important role! 🐅💛 Together, we’re shaping futures and building a brighter tomorrow for our Golden Tigers!
#ForeverGolden #GoldenTigerBIGS #RussellvilleCitySchools #BigBrothersBigSisters
